Out & About October 2017

OA what’s on

This could be a good month to try something different – an exhibition to take you out of your comfort zone, a play for voices, starring a much-loved impressionist, the fascinating ancient art of Kathakali dance and an anniversary tour by folk rock legends. Here’s arts editor TRISH LEE’s pick. For arts news and reviews see N2 in the Newbury Weekly News October dates for your diary

Pioneering artist Rose Finn-Kelcey: Life, Belief and Beyond Modern Art Oxford Until October 15 www.modernartoxford.org.uk Here’s a fresh challenge… Avant-garde in her ideas in both art and politics, the late Rose Finn-Kelcey’s practice was end- lessly inventive.

The voicemeister in play for voices Under Milk Wood The Watermill, Bagnor October 25 to November 4

Bookings: 01635 46044 www.watermill.org.uk

The versatile impressionist, actor, writer of plays and sketches, stand-up comic, singer, host, presenter and latterly pianist, Alistair McGowan, who began his career

Life, Belief and Beyond is the first posthumous exhibition of works by the highly-acclaimed and influential artist that focuses on her explorations of power, performance, political commentary and perceptions of the self, belief and spirituality. You can catch this celebration of her work in its final weeks at that bastion of contemporary visual art, Modern Art Oxford. A key figure in the performance and feminist art scene in Britain for more than four decades, Finn-Kelcey’s work is powerful and profound and is characterised by a dry wit that belies her formidable intelligence and deep humanity. Since her death in 2014, her work has been the subject of increasing attention as the themes she was concerned with have re-entered the public consciousness.

providing voices for the iconic Spitting Image , leads the cast of Dylan Thomas’ comic masterpiece Under Milk Wood, a Play for Voices , cel- ebrating The Watermill’s 50th anniversary year. McGowan will be the First Voice in a company playing multiple roles. Some of literature’s best-loved characters including blind Captain Cat, Polly Garter Reverend Eli Jenkins and No Good Boy, all inhabitants of the small Welsh seaside village of Llareggub, will be brought to life using a combination of sound and voices. The bawdy vignette of small-town life, with the daily happenings and innermost thoughts of the inhabitants laid bare, is lyrical, funny and deeply moving. Just the type of production that suits the intimate Bagnor auditorium so well.

The real Kathakali experience Kala Chethena Kathakali Company The Haymarket, Basingstoke Thursday, October 5 Bookings: 01256 844244 www.anvilarts.org.uk

Folk legends at 50 Fairport Convention: 50th Anniversary Tour Corn Exchange, Newbury Tuesday, October 24 Bookings: 0845 5218218 www.cornexchangenew.com Yet another milestone is being marked – this time by fathers of folk-rock Fairport Convention, who play the Corn Exchange as part of their celebratory 50th anniversary tour. Credited with forging the genre, Fairport first took to the stage in 1967’s Summer of Love, and now, half-a-century later, they are still touring to sell-out audiences across the country. The golden anniversary tour will see them play a selection of tracks from their latest album, 50:50@50 , as well as a host of old favourites from their extensive repertoire. The current line-up features Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums and percussion.

In this UK India Year of Culture, experience the magic of Kathakali, the classical dance drama that combines storytelling, dance, drama, music, ritual, vibrant costumes and the centuries-old art of make-up called ‘chutti’ – in the Guinness Book of Records as the most three dimensional make up in the world. The renowned Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, from Kerala, South India, is bringing the ancient art to the Haymarket, as part of their 30th anniversary tour. This tour, not only includes a spectacular performance, but also provides an opportunity to see first-hand the elaborate pre-show preparation through the chutti process, a viewing of the beautiful costumes and a chance to meet the artists.

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